COLUMNISTS
Don’t try to solve your partner’s problems
COMMENT
You may think you’re trying to help, but you’ll both be better off if you keep your advice to yourself
ILLUSTRATION: CHRISTINA KALLI
If your romantic partner is ranting about a problem they have, you’d logically feel compelled to help. Why wouldn’t you? You don’t want someone you love to be upset, so you try to resolve the issue, to remove the source of their upset by offering advice and suggestions for how to fix it.
But if you do that, you may find your partner gets even more annoyed and frustrated – angry, even. It’s not exactly a logical reaction.
If you’ve experienced this, you’re not alone. The key term used so far is ‘logical’. But real human relationships have never been purely logical. They’re shaped by emotions and emotional connection.